Home Remedies for Common Cold

A cold is a kind of infection that can be caused by different types of viruses. Some of the common symptoms of a cold are headache, runny nose, cough, high fever, itchy eyes, sore throat, body aches and so on.

Here are the top 10 home remedies for a common cold:

1. Garlic

Garlic’s antibacterial and antiviral properties can be very helpful in getting rid of cold symptoms. Garlic is good for the immune system and helps open up respiratory passages, and also helps flush toxins out of your body.

Mix together one crushed garlic clove, two teaspoons lemon juice, one teaspoon honey, and half a teaspoon cayenne pepper or red chilli powder. Consume it daily until the symptoms subside.
Boil four to five chopped garlic cloves in a cup of water and add one teaspoon of honey. Drink it two to three times a day.
You can also eat raw garlic or use a few drops of garlic oil in your food and drinks.

2. Honey

Honey can be of great help in soothing an irritated throat as well as shortening the lifespan of a cold. The high amount of nutrients and enzymes in honey help kill bacteria and viruses that cause colds.

The simplest home remedy is to consume a mixture of one teaspoon of lemon juice and two teaspoons of honey. Take it every two hours to get immense relief from your cold and sore throat.
If you prefer, you can simply swallow a spoonful of raw honey.

3. Salt gargling:
A glass of hot water with a teaspoon of salt can be useful to ease a sore throat. Ask your kid to gargle with salt water twice a day. The saline water helps soothe the pain.

4. Ginger

Ginger can be helpful in treating common cold and its symptoms due to its antiviral, expectorant, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Eat raw ginger or drink ginger tea several times a day. For enhance the effectiveness of ginger tea, add a lemon juice and honey to it.
You can also make a paste of ginger, cloves and salt and eat one-half teaspoon of it two times a day.
For a runny nose, mix equal amounts of dry ginger powder, clarified butter (ghee) and jaggery (gur), a natural sweetener. Consume this mixture daily in the morning on an empty stomach.

5. Chicken Soup

Chicken soup has many essential nutrients and vitamins that help treat common cold symptoms. The high antioxidant properties in chicken soup speed up the healing process.

In addition, it will boost immunity and restore strength in your weary body. For best results, make homemade chicken soup using organic vegetables and chicken.

6. Red Onion

Those suffering from a cold can get relief from homemade red onion syrup. To make the syrup, you will need red onions and honey or brown sugar.

Slice two to three red onions horizontally. Put one slice of onion in a bowl and add raw honey. Repeat the process until the bowl is full.
Cover the bowl and leave it for 12 to 15 hours. When you open the bowl, there will be thick liquid like syrup.
Drink a spoonful of the syrup several times a day to get relief from sore throats and other symptoms of a cold.

7. Pepper

Pepper is one of the most readily available natural treatments for various symptoms of a common cold. The capsaicin present in pepper helps thin the mucus and provide relief from congestion.

If you are suffering from a runny nose, put pepper on your food when you eat a meal. You can also gargle with a teaspoon of black pepper mixed in a glass of warm water.
If you cannot eat or drink pepper, you can still benefit from smelling pepper throughout the day.8. Turmeric Milk

Milk, when combined with turmeric and ginger powder, helps treat coughing as well as other symptoms of a cold, like body aches and a headache. Contrary to the popular misconception, milk does not increase mucus production.

Boil milk and add one-half teaspoon of turmeric power and one-half tablespoon of ginger powder (you can also use fresh ginger).
Allow the milk to cool to room temperature so that you can drink it without burning your mouth. Try to drink it two times a day and especially before going to sleep.

9. Steam:
If your little one suffers from cold and has trouble breathing, get him/her to take steam. Make the kid stand in the bathroom with hot water running or simply heat water in a wide bowl and make the kid inhale the hot fumes for at least 10 to 15 minutes. Adding eucalyptus oil can also help soothe your child's system.

10. Carom Seeds
Boiling water along with carom seeds (ajwain) and tulsi leaves can help to keep the cough in check. It also helps in relieving chest congestion.

Few More Tips :-

Drink several cups of hot water during the day to ensure that the phlegm moves from the lungs to the intestine from where it can be excreted.

Take herbs which have the ability to dissolve the phlegm like cumin powder, ginger powder, black pepper, white pepper, turmeric powder and lemon grass. These herbs are usually take as a decoction boiled in water or one can also add them to soups.

For dry cough, a decoction made of ginger root and black pepper can be taken with half teaspoon of honey. Alternatively, a decoction (काढ़ा बनाने का कार्य) of cumin, black pepper, cinnamon, lemon grass, along with mulethi (liquorice) is very soothing. These should be taken at least three-four times in a day.

Inhaling steam with a few drops of eucalyptus oil can be very refreshing. Whole body sauna and steam also helps to get the phlegm moving.

Body massage with til oil mixed with olive oil is very helpful.

Turmeric is an excellent herb for fighting inflammation and infections. It acts as a natural antibiotic and immunity booster.

Ajwain (carom seeds) is an excellent herb for the stomach. You can make a decoction with a pinch of ajwain, onion juice and gur (jaggery). This can be taken once a day. Ajwain can also be roasted and added to rotis for lunch or dinner.